Southill Park House

TL 1442 SOUTHILL SOUTHILL PARK

13/225 Southill Park House 16.1.52

GV I

Country house. C17 origins, altered earlier C18 (probably by Isaac Ware) for the Byng family, by the addition of wings and pavilions to W and E. Purchased 1795 by Samuel Whitbread I, brewery founder and MP for Bedfordshire. Extensively remodelled 1795-1800 for Samuel Whitbread II by Henry Holland. Holland reworked the central block and the outer pavilions, and rebuilt the linking wings. Walls refaced in Portland and Totternhoe stone. Slate roofs. Central block is of 3 storeys and attics with slightly projecting pedimented bay both to N and S. This block is linked to 2 2-storeyed pedimented pavilions to W and E by ranges of one storey and attics. A basement runs the whole length of the building and is lit from the N. N entrance front: rather plain. The ground floor of the central block and both floors of the side pavilions are rusticated, the rest is in smooth ashlar. 3:4:1:3:1:4:3 window facade, all the original sashes replaced by plate glass casements. The only front entrance is an inconspicuous door in the W bay of the central block. To the centre of the middle bay is a single storey canted bay window. A porte- cochere was added late C19 at the W end, which became the main entrance. A balustrade on the edge of the basement well shields the basement from view. To the E a low 2-storeyed service wing adjoins, of white brick with slate roof. This II window range has a Venetian window at each end, and sash windows with glazing bars in between. S garden front: same arrangement of rustication. Fenestration arranged 3:3:1:3:1:3:3, again mostly with later casements, but retaining some original sashes with glazing bars to the ground floor of the main block and link wings. Portico to central bay of main block, loggie to link wings, all with paired lonic columns and surmounted by balustrades. To E end is later C19 orangery, of red brick, with stone pilasters separating the 6 tall mullion and transom windows. Hipped glass roof. Eaves cornice surmounted by stone urns. Interior: retains most of Holland's original decoration. Hall has some plaster relief sopraportes by George Garrard, whilst the drawing room and boudoir ones are paintings by Sawrey Gilpin. The painted boudoir ceiling and some other panels are by A L Delabriére.

(C Hussey, "Southill Park", Country Life, 12th July 1930, PP 42-48; 19th July 1930, pp.80-86; 26th July 1930, pp.108-114. C Hussey (ed.), Southill, A Regency House, London, 1951. D. Stroud, Henry Holland, His Life and Architecture, London, 1966.)

Listing NGR: TL1433342066